FIVE boys are to be questioned by police over allegations that they left an 11-year-old boy hanging by his tie from a door at a Bolton school.

They will be interviewed at a Bolton police station with their parents.

All five are believed to be teenagers and are thought to have been suspended from The Deane School as an investigation was launched.

Today, the boy's mother, from Deane, Bolton, criticised a letter sent from the headteacher, Tony Hill, to parents which says that her claims "to our knowledge are not true".

As reported exclusively in last night's Bolton Evening News, she said her son claimed that five bullies wrapped his school tie around his neck and left him hanging from the metal hinge of a doorway in a corridor, next to another 11-year-old boy who had been suspended by his rucksack. The pair -- Year Seven pupils who started at the school in September -- managed to free each other, their mothers have claimed. They escaped unhurt.

But in the letter to parents, sent out yesterday, Mr Hill wrote: "The paper (Bolton Evening News), through the words of a parent, makes claims about the incident which to our knowledge are not true.

"Clearly, I cannot go into the details, but I would like to assure you that our investigation does not support the parent's comments. Nor have we had any suggestion from the police that the claims are true.

"As in all cases, we treat bullying very seriously and investigate thoroughly."

His words prompted angry responses from the parents of both alleged victims.

The mother of the boy who claims he was left hanging by his tie said: "I am absolutely livid. My son is adamant that is what happened."

The other mother said her son was "terrified and withdrawn" after the alleged incident. Both parents also claim their sons were kicked and punched.

Other parents contacted the Bolton Evening News yesterday to say children across the school were all aware of an incident.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Arrangements have been made for five boys to attend their local police station to be interviewed in the company of their parents."

A spokesman for Bolton Local Education Authority said: "All schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy in place as part of their behaviour management programme and all do, including the Deane School. The school itself will be dealing with this particular incident."